Tanker truck explodes in Everett, engulfing nearby buildings in flame (Boston)

[uppityperson]

Source: Boston.com

The cleanup is underway after a truck loaded with 9,400 gallons of gasoline hurtled through a traffic circle and overturned early this morning, unleashing a river of fire on Main Street that burned cars, set buildings ablaze, and sent people running for their lives.

State Police Major Kevin Kelly said a witness saw the truck driving at an excessive rate of speed through Sweetser traffic circle at 1 a.m. The operator lost control and the tanker slid on its side, puncturing its hull.....(clip)

The flames demolished two buildings and destroyed or damaged 21 vehicles.

“It looked like a war zone,” Everett Fire Chief David Butler said. “They had heavy fire conditions. Two buildings fully involved in fire. ... They had a pretty serious situation.”About 130 people had to be evacuated from their homes, including residents of an elderly housing complex, as firefighters battled to prevent the flames from spreading there....

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2007/12/a_fiery_river_o.html

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No one got hurt except the driver who hurt his thumb, amazing. Edited to add, I did a search and didn't see this, thought people might be interested.




Link to more pictures
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/12/05/Scenes_from_the_Everett_fire/

[edbermac]

1. About a mile from where I live.

Made for an interesting bus ride into work today.

[uppityperson]

3. Glad no more damage, injuries. Had a train accident outside my house 1 night.

Very glad it caused as little damage as it did.

Iived in the country a few miles from a town. Train derailed, caught on fire, exploded globules of sulfuric acid all over. Glad it did it where it did also, not 3 miles later.

[edbermac]

4. DAMN lucky that no one got hurt! There are gas tanks nearby.

I got this from GoogleEarth. They said this gas tanker driver was going too fast down Main St (upper left) going into the rotary and flipped over with 10,000 gallons of gas. In the bottom half, you can see the gas tanks. Another 100 yards or so and those tanks could have caught fire. It would have been like an atomic bomb going off.

There has also been some fear since 9/11 that LNG tankers that unload about a quarter mile from there could be the object of terrorist attacks.



On edit: from a local TV news helicopter shot; fire, rotary, gas tanks.

[fed-up]

2. heard it on the news this am, but they didn't have pics yet, WoW-nt

[sarcasmo]

5. Gas shoots up fifty-cents. I also wonder, why didn't the building collapse?

[stillcool]

6. did you see

the story about the driver?

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/14784111/detail.html?rss=bos&psp=news
BOSTON -- Team 5 Investigates has uncovered troubled histories for the driver in Wednesday's Everett gas tanker explosion, and the company for which he works.

The FBI in Boston confirms to Team 5 Investigates that Chad M. LaFrance, 30, made a bomb threat when he was working at a UPS facility in Chelmsford in 1996.

According to federal court documents obtained by Team 5 Investigates, LaFrance wrote on a package, "Tick, tick, tick. The time is running out. Danger. Explosive illegal bombs enclosed. Watch handling."
The package was sent to Utah where it caused a bomb scare.

LaFrance's personal driving record reveals three speeding convictions in the past seven years. In 2002, police caught him driving 53 mph in a 35 mph zone. In 2001, he was busted going 83 mph in a 55 mph zone, and in 2000, LaFrance was caught doing 79 mph in a 65 mph zone.

In 2001, LaFrance briefly had his license suspended because his car was not inspected or registered.

The company for which he works, Abenaqui Carriers, based in North Hampton, N.H., has its own troubled history.

[uppityperson]

7. Oh hell. More mental health care is needed to be easily affordably available.

It sounds like having this accident might bring out stuff that needs changing, for this driver and the company. Then there is the mental health care thing. More insurance coverage, more coverage for non/under-insured, etc etc.